Modular α-tertiary amino ester synthesis through cobalt-catalysed asymmetric aza-Barbier reaction

Unnatural chiral α-tertiary amino acids containing two different carbon-based substituents at the α-carbon centre are widespread in biologically active molecules. This sterically rigid scaffold is becoming a growing research interest in drug discovery. However, a robust protocol for chiral α-tertiary amino acid synthesis remains scarce due to the challenge of stereoselectively constructing sterically encumbered tetrasubstituted stereogenic carbon centres. Herein we report a cobalt-catalysed enantioselective aza-Barbier reaction of ketimines with various unactivated alkyl halides, including alkyl iodides, alkyl bromides and alkyl chlorides, enabling the formation of chiral α-tertiary amino esters with a high level of enantioselectivity and excellent functional group tolerance. Primary, secondary and tertiary organoelectrophiles are all tolerated in this asymmetric reductive addition protocol, which provides a complementary method for the well-exploited enantioselective nucleophilic addition with moisture- and air-sensitive organometallic reagents. Moreover, the three-component transformation of α-ketoester, amine and alkyl halide represents a formal asymmetric deoxygenative alkylamination of the carbonyl group.